Lady Jackets release 2010 hoops schedule

BILLINGS - MSU-B's basketball women play three NCAA Tournament teams from last year's field this season, head coach Kevin Woodin announced Monday. The 2010-2011 slate also features 13 regular season home games and one home exhibition contest.

"I am excited about our upcoming season schedule," Woodin said. "It is a very challenging schedule with 14 home games, two neutral site games, and 13 away contests. Our exhibition schedule will prepare us well for our regular season."

The Jackets open exhibition play at home against Montana Western Nov. 2 in Alterowitz Gymnasium. MSUB then travels to Division I foe, Montana State, Nov. 6, before closing the preseason at cross-town rival, Rocky Mountain College, Nov. 9.

For the third consecutive season, the Yellowjackets open the regular season at home against Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference member Metro State Nov. 13. The Jackets then begin a stretch of six games away from home as they head to California to battle California Collegiate Athletic Conference members, Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State Monterey Bay in the Notre Dame de Namur Classic prior to the Thanksgiving holiday (Nov. 19-20). MSUB then plays a road game at Pacific West Conference foe Notre Dame de Namur Nov. 22.

After the break, the Yellowjackets then travel to RMAC member Chadron State for a final non-conference tune-up before Great Northwest Athletic Conference play begins at GNAC newcomer Simon Fraser, Dec. 2, and then at NCAA Tournament participant Western Washington Dec. 4.

The early December conference contests are new this year for the GNAC as it added a postseason tournament and the addition of Simon Fraser pushed league games to 18.

"Both Simon Fraser and Western Washington are very talented and experienced this year," Woodin added. "We will also have an experienced team and our league will once again be one of the premier conferences in the country."

With six of its first seven games away from home, MSUB returns home for a season-long five game home stand beginning with a doubleheader versus Rocky Dec. 11 at 7:30 p.m. The MSUB men's team hosts Dixie State at 5:15. It is the first of five home doubleheaders for the Yellowjackets this season.

A week later, the Yellowjackets entertain Division II provisional member Minot State prior to the Christmas break and come out of the break with the final non-conference game of the season versus Chadron State Dec. 29.

The always tough GNAC slate opens with perennial conference power and NCAA Tournament participant Alaska Anchorage in a doubleheader New Year's Day. The home stand then concludes with Alaska Fairbanks Jan. 3.

Trips to Seattle Pacific (Jan. 8), Northwest Nazarene (Jan. 13) and Central Washington (Jan. 15) follow and the Jackets return home for games versus Western Oregon (Jan. 20) and Saint Martin's (Jan. 22). Return trips to Alaska Fairbanks and Alaska Anchorage conclude the month of January.

February opens with NCAA Tournament qualifier Seattle Pacific in a doubleheader Feb. 5, followed by Central Washington (Feb. 10) and Northwest Nazarene (Feb. 12). The final regular season road trip follows at Saint Martin's (Feb. 17) and Western Oregon (Feb. 19).

For the first time since the Yellowjackets joined the GNAC, MSUB will conclude the regular season at home as it entertains doubleheaders versus Western Washington (Feb. 22) and Simon Fraser (Feb. 24).

The GNAC conference tournament begins Feb. 28 and the championship game is scheduled for Mar. 5 with the winner earning the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

MSUB returns six players and four starters from last season. The Jackets have added six new players including two Division I transfers in Jenny Heringer and Beata Bak from Montana State. In addition, redshirt senior captain Shantell Marquis also returns after suffering an season-ending injury early last season.

Woodin begins his seventh year at the helm of the Yellowjackets. He needs just one win for his 100th win as a Yellowjacket. He is 99-69 which ranks his third in school history in wins.